David Frownfelder: Another education overhaul looms

There is much to like about Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed overhaul of Michigan’s public school system. Unfortunately, there is also much to dislike about it.

The biggest plus is the expansion of opportunities for students to take classes online in a modified regional school setting. The biggest question remains school funding — who gets what and how much.

Snyder is the latest Michigan governor to attempt an overhaul of the state’s education system. How he will fare is anybody’s guess, but judging by the performance of the Michigan Legislature in recent years, I don’t hold out much hope of anything bipartisan, or even efficient, happening.

Some will see the overhaul as another attack on teacher unions and others will use it as an attack on the unions. Both sides will likely dig in and fight any actions to the bitter end.

In recent years, governmental tinkering to the education system — most of it by the Legislature — has put the system in danger of becoming little more than readying students to take tests to determine if they have learned enough to take tests. Any talk of major overhauls has been met with fierce resistance and a bunker mentality of fighting to protect power or to take away power from those holding an opposing viewpoint.

Opposition to Snyder’s plan is already lining up from Legislative Democrats, teachers unions, the state board of education and even some superintendents. Convening a commission involving all factions of education might have been feasible at one time, but with so many fingers in the pie and so many heels dug in, that probably wouldn’t work this time.

A realistic and fundamental change in our education system is needed. A more efficient use of available technology is a must, and Snyder’s proposals are a good starting point for discussion — not a be-all, end-all solution — but a start.

Technological advances are made almost daily, it seems. Offering more classes online is probably the next step in education. However, maintaining the human element — also known as teachers — is still the most important part of education. Some students will always need extra help, and it is a teacher’s job to provide it. Giving teachers the proper tools to do their jobs is essential.

An intriguing proposal is coming from the National Education Association. The national teachers union is calling for a written test much like a lawyer’s bar exam and a minimum grade-point average for new educators.

I have advocated several times in this space in recent years for fewer school districts, of uniform size. Regional districts with shared online classes should be considered. It may not be just money-saving by trimming administrative overhead costs — it could also better utilize existing and future assets of school districts.

The bad news is that concept pretty does away with local community identity with school districts. Any major overhaul of Michigan’s public school systems will likely be met with equally fierce opposition.

Additionally, whenever legislatures, either state or national, make changes to education, they often mandate the changes but drop the responsibility for funding on local districts. The changes often result in the need to hire a new administrator to make certain the local district is complying with all regulations, or you can be damn sure a financial penalty will be levied.

Making new rules for local interests to follow but not supplying them the wherewithal to carry out the mandates is typical legislature buck-passing. Lawmakers brag that they are reforming schools, when in reality all they are doing is adding another layer of bureaucracy.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

David Frownfelder is a staff writer for The Daily Telegram. He can be contacted at 265-5111, ext. 258, or via email at frownfelder@lenconnect.com.